Telephone jack



Feb. 1, 1927. 7 1,616,114

s. T. CURRAN ET A1 V TELEPHONE JACK Filed March 30, 1925 692 1 B A? /o /a E, 8 9 a /2 a 1 7 0 Z i 2 o 7 v 0 3 5 //a9 .7 V4 Va /0 vs [02/] CI Muel/erd l'n/ Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

UNITED STAE STANLEY THOMPSON CURRAN, OF MOUNTAIN LAKES, AND EMIL CARL MUELLER, JR., OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNURS, BY I/ZESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE JACK.

Application filed March 30, 1925.

This invention relates to electrical connecting devices and more particularly to devices of the type wherein electrlcal connections are established by means of plugs and jacks.

It is the object of the invention to provide a connector device particularly for use in telephone systems and adapted to be installed with telephone switchboards.

Specifically, the invention is designed for use in a telephone system where n one op erator may, by inserting a plug into a ack of this character connect her listening apparatus to an incoming trunk and after receiving instructions over said trunk, qulckly remove her plug from the ack and co1nplete the connection as desired,

A feature of the invention is its design which enables its mounting on the face of a switchboard between two operators positions in such a manner that either operator may easily employ the jack assigned to her and yet have no difficulty if occaslon arose to take care of the jack serving the adjacent position.

Another feature lies in the relative posltion of the various components of the jack so that by arranging the tip and r1ng springs thereof in a position substantially perpendicular to the direction the sleeve of the jack takes, the structure 1s so limited in height that it only pro ects about an inch from the face of the board and hence does not interfere with the handling of any apparatus such as trunk plugs that may be positioned close by.

A further feature is found in the design of the sleeve, which is comparatively short, partially inclined, easily replaceable, and removable without interfering with the use of the jack and without the necessity for removing the cover of the jack. Also, the sleeve is so disposed that it may be removed from the jack when it becomes worn without taking off the cover.

A further feature, particularly of 1mportance in the rapid handling of telephone traflic, is provided in the arrangement of the contacts so that upon the insertion of a plug into the jack, the sleeve of the plug will but partially extend therein, so that hand pressure causes the plug to slightly move forward and insure greater contact.

Serial No. 19,190.

Inasmuch as in some branches of telephone practice, it is usual for a telephone operator to insert a plug into a listening jack, such as this may be used for, only momen tarily the operator would, during the operation not release the plug. Her hand, as a result, would cause the plug to slightly move forward. The plug is therefore so arranged to take care of this hand pressure and hence insure positive contact, greater than would usually be the case.

Other features not specifically mentioned, will appear from the following description of one form which the invention may assume in practice taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a representation of the jack as it appears mounted on the face of a switchboard with its cover in place. F ig. 2 is a plan view of the structure with the cover removed, the right hand portion of which shows the sleeve and its supports removed in order to more clearly illustrate the other features of structure and arrangement. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2 and in addition shows a cross-section of the cover through lines 33 of Fig. 1. This view also shows the relative position of a plug inserted into one of the jacks of the structure and makes clear the feature providing for the removal of the sleeve c0ntact from the jack when mounted. In the figures similar reference characters refer to similar parts.

Referring to the drawings, A and B are identical jacks, positioned on each side of insulating portion 1, located perpendicular to base 2, which in turn may be secured to the face of a switchboard, for example, by any suitable means such as screws through apertures 3 in the base. Cover 4 fitting over the whole of the structure and provided with openings 5 for the sleeve portions of the jack structure may be fixed over the jack by means of screws 6, fitting into receiving portions 7. Portions 7 are integral with the jack and as shown are positioned at each end thereof. Upon the removal of screws 6, it is evident that cover 4 can easily be removed and replaced if necessary without interfering with the use of the jack. Also, it is obvious that the jack may be easily shifted on the face of the switchboard by the mere removal of screws 3.

of any durable material, is located sleeve supporting member 1-l and it should be observed that the upper portion of member 14:

is slightly inclined from the horizontal, toward the base of the structure. This is for the purpose of making it easier for the operator toward whom the jack is inclined to insert her plug therein. However, the inclination is not so great that an operator of an adjacent position would find it too difficult to take care of, in the event she was assigned both positions. Sleeve portion 15 may be r of any suitable material, is short, and screws into mounting 14's Collar 16 of the cover is so designed that sleeve 15 may be removed without necessitating the removal of the cover. Sleeve '15 has notches 26 so that a suitable instrument, such as a fitted wrench, may remove the sleeve if it became wornand did not make snug contact with an inserted plug. Split washer 17 is placed between the head of'the sleeve and the top portion of sleeve support let to assure a rubbing contact. 18 is a terminal suitably connectedto the sleeve and wiring thereto may easily be extended through the orifice 13 in the base of the structure.

It is of note that the elements of the plug on one side of dividing portion 1 are in a position reverse to the elements on the other side. lhis makes for a compact and convenient arrangement. It shouldalso beobserved that thesleeve is short and that upon the insertion of a plug, such as 19, the sleeve of the plug will but partially extend into sleeve portion 15 of the jack. "While the tip 9, of the jack is designed to make positive contact with the tip of a plug inserted therein, nevertheless, it is purposely made resilient and is so arranged that hand pressure upon a plug such as 19 will cause the tip to slightly give way. The distance between insulating portion 8 and the tip is great enough to allow the tip to respond to pressure on the plug. The ring contact 10 is V-shaped at its contacting extremity and hence will notonly make contact upon the mere insertion of the plug, but hand pressure on plug 19 causes a rubbing between the ei-shape and the ring portion of the plug so that contact is never broken until the removal of the plug.

The sleeve may be of any material, preferably softer than that of the sleeve portion of an associated plug so that the sleeve of the jack get the brunt of the wear. Inasmuch as it is easily replaceable, it is of course more desirable to replace the short sleeve than the expensive plug.

From the above description, it will be seen that the structure may be easily taken apart for repair or replacement of defective parts by merely removing the cover, which is a very simple operation. The parts also are so arranged that one-half of the plug may be in service, while the other half is undergo ing repair. It will readily be seen that under these conditions, disruption of service caused by defects in the jack will be held "to a minimum.

What is claimed is:

1. A double jack comprising .a base, a middle portion perpendicular to said base and much shorter than the length of said base, a plurality of contacting springs on either side of said middle portion and attached to said base, said contacting springs being substantially parallel to said base and to each other, conducting elements attached to each side of said middle portion and extending in part at an angle less that '90 with said middle portion, sleeve contacts attached to said conducting elements, said conducting elements and :sleeve contacts beins so disposed that a plug may make contact therewith by extending substantially perpendicular to said contacting springs.

52. A double jack having a base and :a partition between each of the component jacks thereof, springs and terminals for each of said jacks arranged in reverse position tothe springs and terminals of the other of said jacks, said springs being substantially parallel to each other and to said base,-sleeve terminals adapted to mount sleeve contacts thereon suitable for making contact with the sleeve portion'of plugs, the portion of each of said sleeve terminals for mounting said sleeve contacts being so inclined with respect to said middle portion, that the extension of said base and any of said sleeve terminals could complete a right triangle.

3. A double jack having "each of these components on opposite'sides of-a partition substantially perpendicular to the base thereof, springs and associated contacts for each component jack oppositely "positioned with respect to the component jack on the other side of said partition, a-sleeve contact for each of said component jacks so positioned with respect to the other springs thereof that a plug associated with each of said jacks may make contact with said springs by being inserted in said sleeve in a direction substantiallyv perpendicular to said springs, said sleeve being positioned at a height above said springs that only :a small portionof an associated plug maybe in contact with said sleeve, said double jack having a cover so arranged that said sleeves may be removed Without the removal of said cover.

4:. A contacting device, comprising a plurality of jacks, tip, ring and sleeve contacts for each of said jacks, the sleeve contact of each of said jacks being so positioned that a plug extended therethrongh makes contact with the tip and ring contacts in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, a cover 10 for said device, and means whereby said sleeve contact may be removed from said device Without the removal of said cover.

In Witness whereof We hereunto subscribe our names this 27th day of March A. D., 15 

